Next Chelsea manager? Rosenior makes early charge to replace Maresca

Cameron Smith

• 1 Nov 2024 18:30 GMT
• 5 min read

Critics were in their thousands, but Enzo Maresca has certainly answered questions over his credentials during his first few months at Chelsea.

The Italian was lauded for his work at Leicester City, however his lack of tactical flexibility was raised as a red flag, while many doubted his ability to make an instant impact at Stamford Bridge.

After all, Mauricio Pochettino had finally found a winning formula in the final few weeks of the 2023-24 campaign, and pre-season suggested the appointment of Maresca was a mistake.

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However, Chelsea have enjoyed a successful start to the new season and while their Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle United was a major blow, it may well prove to be a blip rather than a serious concern in the long-run.

Maresca has extracted the best form of Nicolas Jackson’s career during the early weeks of this campaign, Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana have formed an excellent partnership at the back, while Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke’s connection is growing stronger by the day.

Chelsea are currently fifth in the Premier League table and with Maresca tied down to a five-year contract, the Blues could well stick with the Italian for the foreseeable future.

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However, Chelsea are a volatile club and Clearlake Capital’s revolutionary strategy could easily include another managerial change if Maresca’s fantastic start stumbles into long-term woes.

If that does happen, Chelsea may have already lined up the perfect man to replace him.

Liam Rosenior: Chelsea’s next manager?

Liam Rosenior was harshly sacked by Hull City this summer, with the 40-year-old fired after narrowly missing out on the Championship Play-Offs.

He was soon picked up by Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg, following Patrick Vieira’s departure, and his start to life in France has been exemplary.

Rosenior is unable to communicate to his players in French, but he has overseen a quietly impressive first few weeks of the campaign.

Strasbourg are currently ninth in Ligue 1, having picked up 13 points from their opening nine league games, and Rosenior has already proven that his man-management skills are, quite simply, top notch.

Sebastian Nanasi has been arguably Strasbourg’s best player so far this season, with three goals and two assists in eight Ligue 1 appearances since his €11 million summer move from Malmo FF.

However, he recently returned to his former club this week in order to celebrate their fourth league title in just five years.

Nanasi played 17 times during Malmo’s triumph in the 2024 season, with the Swedish top flight campaign beginning in March, and Rosenior has revealed that he told the 22-year-old to leave Strasbourg training to celebrate with his former team-mates this week.

Ahead of Strasbourg’s Ligue 1 clash against St Etienne, Rosenior told the media: “He didn’t ask me [to go]. It was my idea.

“I went to Sebastian and I said ‘I think it would be great for [you] to have the time to celebrate big moments in [your] life.’

“The other thing for Sebastian, which is different from every player in the squad, is that his season started six months ago. He hasn’t had a break, he has played 32 games off the top of my head, whereas we’re in game nine of our season.

“He needs mental rest, I’m massive on that. For us to play at the intensity that everyone speaks about and work at the intensity that we work at, you have to have a break.

“What Sebastian has given, not just me but everyone at the club, in his time with us has been outstanding and he deserved to have that moment with his former team.”

While Maresca is enjoying time at Chelsea, the Blues hierarchy will no doubt be keeping a close eye on Rosenior’s progress at Strasbourg and his man-management skills could help him land the big job at Stamford Bridge in the future.